The city of San Francisco, on Earth, hosts Starfleet Academy's main campus. The Academy occupies what was originally a military installation known as the Presidio, and portions of the original structures on the site are preserved for their historical value. The Federation Council and Starfleet Command chose the site of San Francisco after considerable debate and discussion. Construction on the Academy began in 2161, shortly after the founding of Starfleet. The original complex was completed in six months and began accepting new cadets immediately for the first class of Academy graduates.

Since its early establishment, the campus has expanded numerous times to accommodate Starfleet's growth and the steady influx of new cadets from different species joining the Federation. Over the years the Federation has ensured that the Academy possesses the most advanced facilities possible for educating the future officers of Starfleet.